SOFITEL FOR THE WEEKEND

Funny how time flies, barely a few weeks ago we picked up my brother from the airport for a vacation from UAE then this weekend we’d be spending our despedida get-together for him with a Sofitel overnight stay. There were still so many places we want to visit, so many food we planned to eat but all of that would now have to wait until the next time that he comes back. Maybe in July again of next year or better yet in May in time for the Mandaue fiesta. Maybe then the long-planned cousins’ reunion would finally push through!

In fact, I thought for a while that Puloy still had another weekend here in the country so I had planned for us to spend another weekend at Auntie Jing’s house (also her bienvenida for TJ naman) but I was wrong pala and so they decided to hold the get-together on a Friday (without me and my family, because I can’t bring the kids since they’re in so far away Bulacan!) But still, I helped arrange the event and coordinated with Marn and Puloy to be there, I also sent Myk to guide them to Aunt Jing’s house in Pasig (and also to act as my rep)












The next day, we went straight to Papa’s condo in Makati because they spent overnight at Auntie Jing’s. We ate lunch there and left at 2:30 for Sofitel and just waited for the others there. Jun and I just watched TV in the room while the kids swam at the pool with Kuya Kit watching over them. Puloy (with his kids), Marn and Auntie Jing’s kids arrived at around 5 and so after they ate some meryenda, we all went down to the pool to watch the kids swim and for some picture-taking. It’s just too bad that it was raining so I didn’t feel like swimming. In fact, as far as I can remember I do not recall ever finding the guts to swim at Sofitel’s pool no matter how often we’ve been here (it’s our third actually for this year!) Maybe it’s because of the sexy bodies that I see all around me??? Maybe when I have the body for it, I would!

After some time (and when the kids have had their fill of the pool), we went up to our room to eat dinner. Auntie Jing’s kids decided not to be picked up by the driver and stayed overnight since they had fun playing hide and seek in our room and watched TV all night long. The kids all slept in the sala outside Papa’s room all laid out on the floor on two mattresses (like a refugee camp).














After eating breakfast, the kids went swimming in the pool once again. While I stayed in the room with Sam playing Angry Birds in Marn’s laptop while she slept on. At around ten, the kids went up to take a bath in the bath tub so I took my bath in Papa’s room. Everyone else took their baths and ate breakfast of corned beef (from the hotel kitchen) and got ready to check out.














We finally left at past 12 and reached the ‘dampa-style’ restaurant atop Baclaran market. It was a seafood-galore festival and we had such a great time eating and taking pics while waiting. All of my brother’s favorites (and even mine!) was laid out on the table. So I am quite sure everything he tasted would last him another year more of waiting till it is time for him to come home and savor once again his favorite Filipino food Goodbye bro! Take care always and see you again next year!

ANGRY BIRDS

Today, I downloaded a new game – Angry Birds which I was first able to play using a cousin’s IPAD last Holy week break in April. It was a cool game and at first I didn’t know I could play it also in Android or even in PCs so when I finally knew, I immediately downloaded a PC version in my computer and started playing the game!

The internet revealed that the game had been in existence since December 2009 for Apple users. The object of the game is to retrieve eggs that were stolen by some green evil pigs. The birds that a player can use are many and varied and are of different combination in each level. The first is the simple red bird, then as one progresses, other birds are introduced with varying powers and capabilities. Like a blue bird that separates into three smaller birds, a black bird that explodes upon impact, a white bird that can drop explosive eggs, and a yellow bird that can be speeded up with a click of the mouse. A player can complete a level if all the pigs are destroyed by the time the last bird is used. All birds that go unused are converted into bonus points and may increase the stars earned for each level.

But my starting to play this game does not mean that I am abandoning my quest to reach Level 50 of Plants vs. Zombies altogether, no, of course not! I am just adding variety to my life coz it does sometimes get too boring just seeing zombies all the time.

BUYING A LYRE FOR KAYE

About two weeks ago, she broached the subject about joining the drum and lyre band in their school, and I go what??? What the hell is a lyre??? I don’t even know what it looks like? And so I figured that would be the end of our conversation. But the week after, she mentioned it again and asked whether she can be allowed to attend the group’s first meeting to be held at around 3pm on July 12. OK so it seems she’s really adamant about this but I had a problem because she goes home with the school bus service and if her schedule would be disrupted I don’t think she can be accommodated by the service anymore since there would be others riding the 5pm batch. Hence, she needs to be fetched by Nanay Ditse. Well, Ditse relented to her request so that’s one problem solved. So I allowed her to attend one meeting to let her find out more details about the group and decide for herself if she really wants to join..

Guess what? When she came home that afternoon, she couldn’t contain her excitement and definitely, definitely wanted to join the band. So I laid down some ground rules. First and foremost is that it should not interfere with her studies. I don’t want her standing in class affected by her practice with the band. Second, she needs to practice outside the house, in the garage preferably or maybe in the room upstairs. Because ours is just a small house, so we would be all affected by the ruckus she makes when she does practice. She asked me to buy her a lyre and their school costume and she told me it costs 1200 and 1000 respectively if both are to be bought from the school – what the!#$@^&*! That much for something she may not sustain an interest for so long!!! So I compromised and promised her that we would buy her a lyre somewhere else.

So on July 15, a Friday, we passed by SM Fairview to look for a lyre – junior sized to fit her small frame. We found one for 790 which was medium sized so we reserved a small-sized one that would probably be delivered next week costing 690. And so I thought that problem was already solved. But come Monday, the lyre was still not delivered and so we went home empty-handed. Of course, she made a fuss about it and got worried that she may be the only one without a lyre during today’s practice. And so hubby and I went to Cubao and also Sta. Mesa where we found her a junior-sized lyre for only PhP500.00. At last! I just hope she would really learn something from this gig, that it would not be just a passing fancy she would soon tire of when her interest wanes.

TAAL FOR JULY KITAKITS

For this month, Papa and Tita E decided to hold our monthly regular kita-kits at Mother Lily’s resort at Taal, Batangas – The Royal Imperial Resorts, to celebrate Puloy and Marn’s arrival from abroad. It’s our second time actually to visit their resort; the first one was during the Holy week break last April. But then, even if it wasn’t really a spectacular place - the pools weren’t all that clean and do not have slides that the kids could enjoy playing with – going there was a welcome respite. Besides, Puloy, Marn and Dian were first-timers here so we would be taking them around.

We got there at 1pm na, since they arrived late from buying food at FTI. We had to cook rice pa so while waiting the kids decided to take a dip in the pool. Good thing we bought bonete bread at Alitagtag so we had something to tide us over while waiting for the rice to cook. After eating lunch of chicken afritada, embutido, and some veggie lumpia we retreated to our rooms while the kids went back to the pool again. Jun and I slept until 6 pm when we awoke to join Puloy, Marn, Dian and the kids who have finished swimming and wanted to go to Taal Basilica for some picture taking. But it was almost dusk when we arrived so we were only able to take pics of the outside of the church because it was already closed. Before heading back to the resort, we passed by 7-11 to buy some ice and snacks for the kids.




Upon our return to the villa, it was already time for dinner. We ate a hearty meal of BBQ chicken, liempo, and spaghetti then I returned to room to do Kaye’s test in English for a while. But she felt sleepy at 10 pm pa lang, so I let her rest and went outside to chat with the others till past 1 am. I know, it’s way beyond my usual bedtime of 10 or 11PM but what the heck, I am only with these people once every month, (and with my brother once every year lang!) so I might as well spend the time catching up on what’s happening in each other’s lives.

The next day, I awoke late at 8am and ate breakfast of Taal longganisa, tapa and hotdogs. After eating, we all took a dip in the pool and played with Papa, Tita E and the kids. After all, it was getting hot na din and it will be our last chance to swim before going home. I went out of the pool to take my bath before lunch time so I could eat my lunch dressed and in peace. We ate kare-kare, crispy pata and sinaing na tulingan…yummy! And I wanted to take an afternoon nap but I had to pack our things to leave which I finished by 3pm. However, we spent some time taking group pictures in front of the villas so that it was 4pm by the time we finally left. We had lots of take home ulam because the others who were planning to follow (like Auntie Chuchay’s family) weren’t able to make it. Just too bad there wasn’t any lechon or much seafoods but still we were satisfied with the food we all shared. But I guess more than just the food, we’re glad to spend some quality time together…all of us, like one big happy family.

P.S. Just too bad coz we had many pics here courtesy of my photographer brother but I can’t download them from FB so I can’t post them here .

MAAP APPLICATION

Today, we took the first step towards the realizations of Keith’s dreams and his future. These past few days, I helped him complete his application form and requirements for his entrance examination to the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). And today, I am finally going to Intramuros, Manila to find the Seaman’s AMOSUP Center so that I could submit his application there and pay the corresponding processing fee of PhP300.00. I got lucky coz someone in the office would be going to Intramuros to get a certification/official receipt for liquidation. Otherwise, I would have commuted to get to this place and I would not have been able to find it since its hidden somewhere within the interiors of the walled city, near the San Agustin church.

Why MAAP? It’s the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific and for me it’s the better alternative to PMA since their school campus is just near, in Bataan unlike in PMA where we have to go to Baguio every time we wish to visit him. And what’s more, in both schools, their students are scholars, meaning we do not have to spend a cent on his education if he passes either of the two schools. The advantage at MAAP is that during his third year and he goes into apprenticeship he would be earning dollars if a Dutch or any other foreign ship invites him to join their organization.

So, I have been tutoring him in English but I want also to tutor him in Math because he wants to take the Marine engineering course and not just the Marine transport course. I know he needs lots of knowledge in Math to be able to pass the test. The sad part is that I seem to have already forgotten the concepts, only the basic ones on fractions and decimals remain, and these are not enough! Oh dear, I sure hope we have enough time to study. I specifically chose the test on October 8 because I wanted him to gain more time to review. I just hope that when that day comes, he will be ready. Dear Lord, please make him ready!

LEVEL 47 IN SURVIVAL ENDLESS!

Yesterday, I was able to reach a milestone of sorts because I finally was able to reach 47 flags in Plants vs. Zombies Survival Endless ---hurrah! hurrah! At long last, after so many days of browsing the net for strategies that others before me have used, I finally chose one which I liked and it seemed to be working although I still wonder how they were able to reach 100 or even 500 flags when I can’t even reach 50??? But still and all, I am just so glad that I finally reached 47 flags, that’s already an achievement of sorts considering that I am only able to play Plants sometimes during lunch breaks and at times to break the monotony after long spells of transcribing. I do a level or two just to rest my ears before returning to transcribing once again. Well, here’s a photo grab of my Plants vs Zombies status just to prove that I did reach 47 flags in Survival Endless.







The main weapon of choice that I use is the Gloom-shroom (the violet one, which must be combined with the Fume-shroom) to counter the endless attacks of zombies both in land and in water. I put two or even three layers of it on top of lilies so that even those wily dolphin-rider zombies are defenseless with three of them that they can’t just jump over. At the back, I also place a layer of Gloom-shrooms to counter the Digger Zombies and two more Gloom-shrooms at the third layer for those mischievous imps. For the gargantuars, I use the the cob cannons which are derived from a combination of two kernel pults. They are usually placed in water since on land they are totally defenseless since pumpkins can’t be placed around them for protection. By the way, I place pumpkins over all of my plants even the double sunflowers - everything! Well, except for the spikerocks which is my main weapon against Zombonis and the Zombie bobsled team. Here’s a picture of my basic defense, I have forgotten what level this is but this is basically what my lawn looks like after ten flags. The cattails are used to counter Balloon Zombies while the Umbrella leaf strategically placed at the second layer is used to counter Bungee zombies and to cover against basketballs thrown by Catapult Zombies.







One word of advice though, it is important to stock up on sunflowers during the first few levels so that one can achieve/attain a huge amount of sun that would be necessary during the latter levels. Next time I’ll try to show more detailed pictures of my lawn per level so you would understand what I mean. Meanwhile, wish me luck that I may surpass 50 flags in the coming days…

KITCHEN MISADVENTURE SERIES 29: SAUCY HONEY BBQ CHICKEN

This next recipe was derived again from Dennis’ Lutong Bahay blog, check out his blog if you want to get the exact ingredients and procedures. All I could remember was that I marinated the chicken overnight in a mixture of salt, pepper, calamansi and BBQ marinade mix. Then the next day, I boiled the chicken in a non-stick pan in the marinade mixture to which some water has been added. Then, when the liquid has been reduced, I put in the honey; let the chicken fry a bit more in its own oil (turning regularly so as not to burn it) before taking them out and draining in a wire basket.

P.S. The kids said the chicken was a bit salty, but I figured I placed way too little honey so the flavors must not have balanced out, so next time I would add more honey and maybe lessen the salt.

KITCHEN MISADVENTURE SERIES 28: CREAMY AND CHEESY PORK

For my kids baon today, I decided to cook another viand with white sauce and lots of cheese! (what more would my kids ask for?!?) It’s a bit like the previous entry (Pork with mushrooms in white sauce), the only difference is the pre-boiling of the meat and the inclusion of potatoes and carrots instead of mushrooms. But this recipe still came from Dennis’ Lutong Bahay blog, here it goes:

500 grams pork meat
1 small can evaporated milk
1/4 bar cheese
1 tbsp. dried basil
1 large potato sliced
1 large carrots sliced
1 large onion chopped
5 cloves minced garlic
salt and pepper
1 tsp. cornstarch

The night before, I pre-boiled the pork (so that would mean lessening the cooking time I would spend the next day) so that come morning I just sautéed the meat in onion and garlic. I added seasonings and dried basil then the water I reserved from boiling the meat last night. Add the potatoes and carrots then let boil for about five minutes. You may add the milk at this point, a little cornstarch to thicken the sauce and finally the cheese before turning off the fire.

THIRDY AT ONE MONTH

We were supposed to go to vet today but we lacked the time, so we postponed Bunny’s treatment for the meantime. This was just too bad since it’s so seldom that we get to stay home here at our house in Bulacan. And what’s worse during the times that we do stay we don’t have the budget for it naman, so it’s really an opportunity wasted talaga! So, instead, I just cleaned their cages and decided to play with Thirdy for a while. After all, he already turned one month today and is now quite playful and makulit. Unlike the last time when we borrowed him and he still found it difficult to move and was just sleeping. Here are some of his cute and cuddly pics.

MY BROTHER’S HOME

After a year of slaving away like a dog in UAE (that’s what he says!), my brother is back home for a three-week vacation this year. Last year he was here for a month, but he says he found it difficult going back to work at once upon returning to UAE after his vacation so now he gave himself one week to readjust his body clock before going back to work. Hence, the cut in his time here in the country but that’s OK as he just needs to just make sulit every moment he spends here. His flight home was scheduled at 12 midnight and so we picked him up at the airport (with Myk and Kaye) and brought him home to Mama at Project 4.

Why was Kaye with us at so late an hour??? Well, of course she’s excited to see her new PSP. You see, I asked my brother to buy her a PSP because he says it’s cheaper there by half. Imagine what we could buy here for around 10 or 12K he could get for just 5 or 6K so I told him to buy us one before he arrives and that is why Kaye couldn’t wait since he said he bought her a white PSP 3006 version and he even had about 20 or so games installed. It was priced at 500 dirhams, so that makes it around PhP 6500, but he made us pay for only PhP 5000 only. So, thank you dear bro! You made my little girl so happy! For me and Mama he brought Nine West wallets (big brown for Ma and a small black one for me), for Marn and Anna - Victoria Secret’s Body Mist perfume, for Jun, Myk and Keith some shirts/polo shirts and of course – chocolates galore! We all went home quite satisfied with our pasalubongs and so happy that my brother is home.